On February 27 and May 1, faith leaders from across EPA & GNJ gathered to break bread together, lament, and strategize on how to work collaboratively for justice. The leaders of Mother African Zoar UMC graciously offered hospitality, opening their doors, troubleshooting parking, and serving a comforting and delicious meal on a cold winter evening. First United Methodist Church of Germantown hosted the second event, inviting friends from near and far to gather in the hall for a meal and conversation around the table.

Hope stirred as strangers gathered under a common purpose became friends. The hall was packed. In February, so many people attended that the organizers invited those who had finished eating to continue their conversations upstairs, allowing others to find space at the table.

In her opening remarks, Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi set the tone, urging justice fighters not to be overwhelmed by what they see, but instead to walk by faith:

“There are forces, principalities, leaders in high places who want us to act as if we are dead. They want us to act as if our faith is dead—as if we walked by what we see with our eyes, rather than what we know in our hearts and feel in our very being… We can get overcome by what we see. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we don’t walk by what we see—we walk by faith.”

At Mother African Zoar UMC, the Rev. Dr. William Brawner, pastor of the historic congregation, offered a brief reflection:

“We are all under attack at certain times, and we all need each other… If we can’t come together under one banner, if we can’t come together under one faith, if we can’t come together under one God—how many more executive orders do we need?… This isn’t just a prayer vigil—make sure that you leave with some information that you can use this evening. Make sure that you sign up to be part of an action, not just a reaction.”

Rev. Alisa Wailoo, senior pastor of FUMCOG, invited everyone to consider the imaginal cells that orchestrate the transition from caterpillar to butterfly:

“Imaginal cells are trying to imagine something different than consumption. They know that new life is possible, and they start connecting. They become something distinctly new. Our work is to be those cells—connecting one by one, no matter the attack—until we become something new.

Rev. Noé Gabriel López served as emcee for both events, introducing presenters who resourced and equipped the body to act. The presenters have been organized below by topic. To borrow from Rev. Dr. Brawner, you are invited to scroll through and find the information you need so that you can be part of an action, not just a reaction.

Immigration

Rev. Mark Salvacion, immigration attorney and Coordinator of the EPA-UMC Immigration Rapid Response Team, counsels churches and clergy on recent immigration policy changes and their impact on vulnerable populations. He shared how he came to be involved in immigration work: His family fled the Philippines in the 1950s after World War II. His father came to the U.S. as a medical student and began practicing medicine. In 1963, his visa expired, and he was ordered to leave the country within 90 days. At the time, he had seven children, four of whom were U.S. citizens. The church rallied behind Rev. Salvacion’s family—writing letters to the editor, to their state representative, and even to then-Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. Rev. Salvacion reminded those gathered of a fundamental truth, “We are all immigrants. Unless we are Native Americans, each of us has an immigration story.”

Rev. Salvacion reminded everyone of their constitutional rights: the right to remain silent, the right not to sign papers, and the right to be free from unlawful search and seizure. “Please reach out to me for those who need a path forward—for yourself or others.”

Peter Pedemonti of the New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia, a presenter at both Lament and Action and We Walk by Faith events, shared an update on how ICE was operating in the city of Philadelphia and encouraged everyone to remain faithful and committed to the cause of justice.

“People of faith are taking a stand. We are all part of God’s unveiling plan of liberation… Claim our full agency, our full power… We have our own laws. We have our own executive orders. We are called to love our neighbor, called to serve the stranger.”

Following his presentation, Rev. Dawn Taylor-Storm, Director of Connectional Ministry for EPA & GNJ, shared how the conferences are supporting those vulnerable to immigration raids. The Immigration Rapid Response Team has been established under Rev. Salvacion’s leadership, and a fund is being created to support bond hearings.

Advocacy and Environmental Justice

Mitch Chanin, organizer and activist, urged leaders to cultivate a clear vision: “We need a vision for where we want to go—not just strategies to fight off all the attacks.”He described the steps necessary to build power at the local and state levels to bring about material change in the communities they serve.

Ethan Stide of POWER Interfaith described the group’s vision of churches as neighborhood epicenters. POWER’s goal is to help city councils view congregations—not developers—as the heart of the community. They are currently campaigning to lower property taxes and fight gentrification in Philadelphia.

Alyssa Weinfurter, Director of Emergency Services at Valley Youth House, highlighted the challenges faced by unhoused LGBTQ+ youth: “Our vision is for every single young person to have a nurturing community—anyone who needs love, care, support, and guidance.”

Prison Reform

John Thompson of the Abolitionist Law Center urged attendees not to forget those who are incarcerated. He described the dire conditions in many prisons and encouraged people to vote yes on the May 20 ballot question establishing a community oversight board for county prisons.

Rev. Jackie Newsome, Associate Pastor of FUMCOG, spoke on prison gerrymandering and the abolitionist movement. She explained how prison gerrymandering robs neighborhoods of political power and invited attendees to consider restorative justice:

“Practicing abolition means saying yes to folks who need us—and saying no to systems of oppression that try to scare us.”

At the May 1 gathering, Ms. Gail Loney urged attendees to remember their incarcerated neighbors. “We have to love on one another no matter what.” She encouraged Philadelphia residents to vote yes on the prison oversight committee ballot initiative: “You gotta put your heart out there, but you also gotta put your feet out there—put your money out there.”

Personal and Communal Healing

Ms. Yolanda Hughes, from Network of Neighbors, offered support to pastors and church leaders, “The work you do takes a toll on you. You hear a lot. You see a lot.”

She encouraged attendees to watch for signs of trauma in themselves—physical changes, shifts in thinking or behavior—and to seek support from friends or mental health professionals. Those in Philadelphia can reach out directly to Network of Neighbors, whose mission is to support communities experiencing trauma and loss.

Both the February 27 and May 1 gatherings ended with a time for questions and answers before the District Superintendents offered a closing blessing. On February 27, Rev. Dr. Andrew Foster III, District Superintendent for the East District, charged the body:

“Church, it is time to move… The truth is all of us are valued in God’s kingdom, regardless of what anyone else says.”

On May 1, Rev. Evelyn Kent-Clark, District Superintendent for the South District and Dean of the EPA Cabinet, offered this blessing:

“You are empowered. Now go and turn the tables over and bring justice and equity everywhere.”

As the gatherings came to a close, what lingered was not just the warmth of shared meals or the power of spoken truths, but a renewed sense of purpose. Leaders committed themselves not just to lamenting injustice, but to acting boldly in love.With hands joined and hearts aligned, the EPA & GNJ communities are poised to embody the justice, mercy, and transformation we seek.